Some Liverpool supporters were left disappointed with the announcement that the club would not pursue Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer. Bellingham’s reported £120 million transfer fee turned Liverpool off, leading them to focus on other midfield transfer targets.
According to reports, Alexis Mac Allister is Liverpool’s main target this offseason. The Brighton midfielder, who scored a second-half stoppage time penalty against Manchester United on Thursday to send the Seagulls to a 1-0 win, is set to leave the Amex Stadium in the summer.
Rumours suggested Mac Allister would leave Brighton after helping Argentina win the World Cup last November. Brighton weren’t interested in selling Mac Allister at the time. However, the Seagulls are now ready to sell the World Cup winner, with Liverpool in pole position to sign him.
According to football transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have beaten Manchester United and Chelsea to Mac Allister’s signature. The Reds are set to pay £70 million to add the Argentine midfielder to the squad.
If the Reds sign Mac Allister, the midfielder must be considered the ideal alternative to Bellingham. Liverpool could have spent £120 million on Bellingham alone but adding Mac Allister for £70 million would allow the club to spend additional funds elsewhere.
Liverpool set to lose three midfielders to free transfers
Liverpool need at least two midfielders this offseason, as it appears James Milner will leave the club on a free transfer. He is expected to sign for Brighton. Milner will join Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita exiting Anfield on free transfers.
Jurgen Klopp could move Trent Alexander-Arnold into a permanent central midfield role, but the club would need to sign a right-back. There is no evidence that Klopp will play Alexander-Arnold solely in central midfield next season despite some fans crying out for it.
Mac Allister is the ideal Liverpool midfielder
Mac Allister has appeared in 29 Premier League games for Brighton, scoring nine goals and assisting one. Mac Allister’s nine goals are a career-high. His previous best came last season when he tallied five Premier League goals for the Seagulls. Three of Mac Allister’s nine goals this season came from the penalty spot and six from open play.
Mac Allister joined Brighton in 2020 after helping Argentina’s Boca Juniors win the Primera Division title. Since arriving at the Amex, Mac Allister’s career has been on an upward trajectory, appearing in more league games each season.
The Argentine can play as either an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder. While there is a clamour for Liverpool to break the bank this summer to sign Bellingham, Mac Allister is a proven Premier League player. He could potentially fit into the Liverpool side better than Bellingham.
How do the two players compare?
Bellingham has played 2,511 Bundesliga minutes, scoring five goals and adding four assists. He averages 2.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, and 1.1 key passes per fixture.
Mac Allister has nine goals and one assist in 2,452 minutes of Premier League action. He averages 2.1 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, and 1.2 key passes per game.
The numbers are very similar, but the biggest difference is Mac Allister has played fewer minutes while competing in the Premier League. Bellingham is a fine player. Yet, the price tag is far too much for Liverpool.
Do Liverpool have additional midfield transfer targets?
Liverpool are also interested in Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, who has struggled for minutes at the German club this season. Chelsea’s Mason Mount is also of interest, but a deal may depend on the player signing a new contract. Mount could be available for £70 million, as Chelsea’s owners attempt to recoup some of the money, they spent in the last two transfer windows.
In the end, Liverpool could pay £120 million to £140 million for two high-quality midfielders rather than just signing Bellingham for the same price. As good as Bellingham is, he alone cannot fix Klopp’s squad.
It is worth remembering that Stefan Bajcetic, Harvey Elliott, and Curtis Jones will all fight for a place in the middle of the park next season. Then, there is also Thiago, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho. Although the three veterans are getting older and are more affected by injuries, they still provide quality in the centre of the pitch. Liverpool’s midfield could be revamped with Mac Allister’s energy along with one more midfielder.
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